Locking mechanism



J. T. BINKLEY.

LOCKING MECHANISM.

APPILICATION FILED DEC. 10. 1919.

2 SHEET5SHEET l- Irv/r A w e Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

WW6 75m J. T. BINKLEY. LOCKING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION nueo DEC. 10. 1919.-

Patented Mar. 8, 1921,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. BINKLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY LIKLEY & COMPANY,

OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LOCKING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

Application filed December 10, 1919. Serial No. 343,942.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN T. BINKLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Locking Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to locking mechanism for suit-cases and other 0011-. tainers; and the primary object is to provide improved locking mechanism which is adapt ed to secure the sections of the containers automatically together at a plurality of points.

The invention is illustrated, in its preferred embodiment, in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents an upper edge view of a suit-case equipped with the improved locking mechanism; Fig. 2, a sectional view looking at the inner side of the upper wall of the suit-case, the section being taken as indicated at line 2 of Fig. 3; Fig. 3, an enlarged broken sectional view taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a section taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 2, showing the locking mechanism in the locking position; Fig. 5, a similar section showing the locking mechanism in released position; and Fig. 6, a broken sectional view through the lock-case looking toward the inner surface of the outer wall of the lock-case.

In the illustration given, A represents the main section, or body, of a suit-case, or container B, the other section, or lid,*of the container; C, a plurality of dowels with which the member B is equipped; C, a plurality of sockets, or keepers, for said dowels, with which the member A is equipped; G a rock-shaft equipped with a plurality of bolts, or catches, G which are adapted to engage notches, or shoulders, with which the inner surfaces of the dowels C. are provided; C, a spring-lever adapted to actuate the rock-shaft to retract the bolts C C, a plate, or mounting, secured to the inner surface of the upper wall of the section A, and serving as a mounting for the rock-shaft and container parts; and C, a lock-case in which is mounted a plunger-like rotatable key-barrel G which serves as a push-button adapted to actuate the member 6* to effect release of the bolts C G a tumbler, or dog, adapted to releasably lock the member C in projected'position; C", a pawl, or latch, adapted to hold the tumbler C in retracted position; and C a slidable stud, or button, mounted in a slotin the front wall of the lock-case and adapted to disengage the pawl 0 from the tumbler C In the form of container illustrated, the section A has a top wall 1, which is overlapped by a top wall, or flange, 2, with which the section B is provided, the free edge of the flange 2 being indicated at 2. The free edge of the section A is equipped with a bead, or reinforcement, 1.

The dowels O are in the form of clips riveted to the flange 2 of the section B. Thus, each dowel has a flange 3 secured, by rivets, as shown, to the flange 2, and has a body-portion 3 provided with a reduced finger which extends into the corresponding socket C, the finger being provided in its inner side with a bolt-receiving recess 3",

affording a locking shoulder for with the corresponding bolt C Each socket C is in the form of a clip having a flange 4: secured by rivets to the wall 1, as shown, and each clip has a swelled socket-portion P which is open at one end to receive the corresponding dowel.

The rock-shaft O is supported by small brackets 5 applied to the rear, or lower surface, of the plate 0". The rock-shaft is equipped with yokes 6 which are rigidly secured to the rockshaft and serve as arms for actuating the bolts C The yokes are shown as formed of wire, with the web-portions 6 of the yokes extending through transverse perforations with which the inner ends of thebolts, or catches, C are provided. The rock-shaft is equipped with torsion springs 7 which tend to force the bolts C to the locking position. The outer ends of the bolts C are beveled, as indicated at 8, these hevels being adapted to engage bevels 9 with which the extremities of the dowels C are provided, so that the bolts C -will be automatically retracted and then projected into therecesses 3 when the sections of the containers are close together.

The plate C is secured to the wall 1 by rivets 10. The rock-shaft actuating member C is shown in the form of a steel strip, or spring-lever, which has one end secured by a bolt, or rivet, 11, to the plate C and which has the other end equipped with a yoke 11 which engages the web-portion 6 of the intermediate arm 6 of the rock-shaft. At an intermediate point, the member C is equipped with an integral loop ll which is engagement adapted to receive the thrust of the pushbutton C in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5.

The lock-case C has an outer plate 12, an inner plate 12, and a flange 12 which eX tends outwardly from the rear plate 12 and engages the front plate 12. The plates are;

secured together by rivets 12.

The wall 1 is provided with a rectangular opening, as indicated at 13, which affords a space which receives the body of the lock case. The front plate 12 of the lock-case is larger than the opening referred to, thus affording a flange which overlaps the outer surface of the wall 1 and is secured to said wall and the plate 0* by rivets 14.

The suit-case, or container, is shown equipped with a handle 15 (shown brokenly in Fig. 1), which is secured to the wall 1 and the plate C b means of rivets 15.

The key-barrel (1 which constitutes also a push-button, is so mounted in the lockcase that it can be rotated by means of a key to effect release from the tumblers, and can move inwardly and outwardly, like a plunger. -The key-barrel has an enlarged outer end-portion 16 and a reduced inner end-portion 16*. At the junction of these two portions is a flange 16 which engages the outer wall of the lock-case when the member is in projected position. The pushbutton C works through suitable perforations in the plates of the lock-case, the plate C and the lever C, the inner end of the reduced portion 16 being adapted to bear against the loop 11 of the lever C, so that the push-button is capable of forcing the lever C inwardly, in the manner indicated in Fig. 5, andthe lever will return the pushbutton to the projected position when the pressure of the finger is relieved. When the push-button is in the projected position, it normally is engaged by the dog, or tumbler,

C, which engages the inner wall, or sh0ulder, afforded by the flange 16 of the pushbutton. A key 17 may be employed to rotate the member C and force the tumbler C to the position shown in Fig. 6, where it will be automatically engaged by the latchpawl C". This leaves the member C to be free to be operated as a push-button to eifect release of the bolts C from engagement with the dowels C. When the pressure of the finger is released, the-member C is projected outwardly, and the operator then shifts the slide-button C to effect release of the latch C thus permitting the tumbler C to lock the key-barrel C As indicated, the button C is slidable in a slot 18 with which the front plate 12 of the lock-case is provided.

In the illustration given, there are shown tlireepairs of dowels and sockets, the central socket being mounted on the outer plate 12, of the lock-case. It will be understood, however, that anydesired number of dowels Fig. 4: shows the parts in locked position.

In this position, the tumbler C engages the inner or under wall afforded by the flange 16 of the key-barrel, thus locking the keybarrel against actuation as a push-button. In this condition, the bolts, or catches, C engage the recesses 3 of the dowels C, so that sections of the suit-case are securely locked together at a plurality of points. When it is desired to open the suit-case, the key 17 is inserted and rotated, thus effecting release of the key-barrel C The key is then removed and the key-barrel is actuated as a push-button, thereby forcing the lever C inwardly in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5 and withdrawing the bolts C from engagement with the dowels C. After the sections are separated, the pressure upon the member C is relieved, thus permitting the bolts C and the key-barrel C to return to the projected position. The slide-button G is then removed to effect release of the turnbler C thereby locking the key-barrel in the projected position. When the lid of the suit-case is closed again, the bolts 0 engage the recesses 3 of the dowels by snap action. It will be understood that the lever C is free to move inwardly, while the key-barrel remains locked, during the operation of closing the lid of the suit-case, the bolts 0 being automatically retracted, and then projected into the recesses 3 during this operation. V

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitation should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art. I

What I re ard as new, and desire to secure by Letters l atent, is:

1. The combination with container-sections having walls adapted to close together, of a dowel carried by one of said walls, a socket carried by the other wall for receiving said dowel, a bolt working through said second-mentioned wall and' engaging a shoulder at the inner side of said dowel, and

a key controlled push button working through said second-named wall and having operative connection with said bolt at the inner side of said second-mentioned wall;

2. The combination with container-sec: tions having walls adapted to close together, of a dowel carried by one of said wallsand adapted to project over the other wall, said dowel being provided at its inner side with a shoulder, a bolt working through thesec-.

ond-mentioned' wall and engaging said shoulder, a spring adapted to project said bolt, and key-controlled means extending through said second-mentioned wall and having operative connection with said bolt at the inner side of said second-mentioned wall.

3. The combination with container-sections having walls adapted to close together, of a plurality of dowels carried by one of said walls, a plurality of sockets carried by the other wall for receiving said dowels, a plurality of bolts working through said second-mentioned wall and adapted to lock the dowels and sockets together, a push-button working through said second-mentioned wall, means mounted on the interior surface of said second-mentioned wall whereby said bolts may be actuated through the medium of said push-button and a spring associated with said last-mentioned means for project ing said bolts.

4. The combination with container-sections having walls adapted to close together, of a plurality of dowels rigidly carried by one of said walls, a plurality of sockets rigidly carried by the other wall for receiv ing said dowels, a plurality of bolts working through said second-mentioned wall and adapted to lock the dowels and sockets together, a push-button working through said second-mentioned wall, spring-actuated means connected with the inner ends of and serving to project said bolts, and means mounted on the inner surface of said second-mentioned wall whereby said bolts may be retracted through the medium of said push button.

5. The combination of container-sections having walls adapted to close together, of a plurality of dowels carried by one of said walls and provided at their inner sides with recesses, a plurality of sockets carried by the other wall, a spring-actuated rock-shaft mounted on the inner side of said secondmentioned wall and equipped with arms connected with the inner end of said bolts, a lock-case carried by said second-mentioned wall, a key-controlled plunger mounted in said lock-case, and a member adapted to be actuated by said key-controlled plunger and serving to actuate said rock-shaft to effect retraction of said bolts.

6. The combination with container-sections having walls adapted to close together, of a plurality of dowels carried by one of said walls, a plurality of sockets carried by the other wall for receiving said dowels, a plurality of bolts adapted to lock said dowels and sockets together, a spring-actuated rocK shaft adapted to project said bolts, a lever adapted to turn said rock-shaft to retract said bolts, and a push-button adapted to actuate said lever.

-7. The combination with container-sections having walls adapted to close together, of a plurality of dowels carried by one of said walls, a plurality of sockets carried by the other wall for receiving said dowels, a plurality of bolts adapted to lock said dowels andsockets together, a spring-actuated rock-shaft adapted to project said bolts, a lever adapted to turn said rock-shaft to retract said bolt, a push-button adapted to actuate said lever, and key-controlled means adapted to lock said push-button in projected position.

8. The combination with container-sections having walls adapted to close together, of a plurality of dowels carried by one of said walls, a plurality of sockets carried by the other wall for receiving said dowels, a mounting-plate carried by the second-mentioned wall, a plurality of bolts working through said second-mentioned wall and said plate and engaging said dowels, a rock-shaft mounted on said plate and equipped with means for projecting and retracting said bolts, a lever adapted to turn said rock-shaft in one direction, a spring device adapted to turn the rock-shaft in the opposite direction, and a push-button adapted to actuate said lever to effect the retraction of said bolts.

JOHN T. BINKLEY. 

